Concentrator.



H. J. NIELSEN, G. J. BORGLIN & L. G. A. SOBBORG.

GONGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1911. 1,061,105. Patented May 6, 1913.

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H. J. NIELSEN, G. J. BORGLIN & L. G. A. SOEBORG.

GONGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1911. 1,061,105. Patented May 6,1913.

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H. J. NIELSEN, G. J. BORGLIN & L. G. A. SOEBORG.

GONGBNTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1911. 1,061,105. Patented May 6, 1913.

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H. J. NIELSEN, G. J. BORGLIN & L. G. A. SOEBORG.

GONGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.25,1911.

Patented May 6, 1913.

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GONGENTRATOR. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1911.

1,061, 105. Patented May 6, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

SM/UW/tOz/S HOL GER J N/EL SEN ewmmw CHARZ. 5 J 50/? 61 [N 851g LUaV/eQ/LSOEBO/i ?%MM' WW7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOLGER J. NIELSEN AND CHARLES J. BORGLIN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, AND LUDVIG'rC. A. SOEBORG, 0F ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS T0 BEAR MILLING ANDMINING COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OFCALIFORNIA..'

CONCENTRATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 25, 1911.

Patented May 6, 1913.

Serial No. 662,296.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that we, HOLGER J. NmLsEN, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, and CHARLES J. BORGLIN and LUDVIG C. A. Sonnono, citizens ofthe United States, the two former residing at San Francisco, SanFrancisco county, and the latter residing at Alameda, in the county ofAlameda, all of the State of California, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Concentrators, of which the following is aspecification.

Our present invention relates to ore concentrating machines and moreparticularly to that class of apparatus for effecting concentration ofore by the dry process, and is particularly applicable as means for theseparating of gold and platinum from matter such as sand and earth, withwhich it is usually found intermixed, in certain localities.

The principal objects of our invention, are, to provide a concentratorof the character described in which particles of lighter specificgravity are separated from those of higher specific gravity by means ofagitation through properly directed air blasts and reciprocation ofsettling members, and further to somewhat grade the particles of higherspecific gravity as they are passed from the apparatus.

A further object of our invent-ion is to provide an apparatus adapted tobe located in close proximity to the place where the ore bearingmaterial is found and to enable it to be transported to theconcentrator, within a practical radius,.without moving the concentratorand thus facilitating operation as the workings of the find progress.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification :Figure 1 is aside elevation of a concentrator and conveyor embodying my invention,parts of the conveyer being broken away to facilitate illustration. Fig.2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing the opposite side of theconcentrator therefrom. Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of theconcentrator. Fig. t is a cross sectional view on the lines et4t ofFig. 1. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional View of substantially the lines5--5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view on substantiallythe lines 66 of Fig. 1. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views showing means forpermitting relative movement between a member, and a member supportedthereby. Fig. 9 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional viewthrough the concentrator. Figs. 10 and 11 are detail views of a portionof ascreen used in connection with the concentrator and means forstrengthening the same. Figs. 12 and 13 are detail views of a portion ofmeans for adjusting the tension of the before mentioned screen. Fig. 14is a transverse vertical sectional view on substantially the lines 1414of Fig. 1.

Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A suitable frame structure is provided which consists of base members 1,uprights 2, and crossties 3, it being obvious that the generalconstruction of the frame structure may be modified, as circumstancesmay require, without departing from the spirit of our in vention.

Carried by the frame and stationary therewith are suitably aperturedside plates 4 which may be joined at the bottom and side margins by aplate 5, clearly shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. The plates 4 and 5form a suitable casing for supporting and containing suitable aircurrent producing means to be subsequently described. The plates 1 carrycomplementary supports 6, which may be of angle section, such supportsbeing movable with respect to the plates through the resilientconnections 7, which may consist of a bracket 8, carried by the plates4:, a bracket 9, secured to the supports 6, and a compression spring 10interposed therebetwcen.

The supports 6 are designed to carry and agitate laterally, alongitudinally movable screen 11 clearly shown in section in Fig. 9 ofthe drawings. To provide means for supporting the screen, a suitablecurved arm 12 is pivoted to each end of the supports 6, thus providingtwo pairs of complementary arms 12, which carry'shafts 13 and flangedwheels 14 which latter support the screen 11 at its lateral margins. Thescreen is further supported intermediate the arms 12 by a roller 15.With particular reference to Figs. 10 and 11, it is to be noticed thatthe screen 11 may be provided with a strengthening strip 16 at itslateral margins where it is supported by the wheels 14, and thattransverse bars 17 are provided to prevent the screen from sagging inthe center.

The complementary arms 12 are supported at their ends opposite theirpivotal connection to supports 6, by means providing play between parts,and illustrated in detail in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings. Carried bythe plates l are brackets 18, supporting rods 19, connected by a yoke20, the latter including lugs 21 supporting pivot members 22, all ofwhich remain stationary with the plates 4:. The ends of thecomplementary arms 12 are connected by a rod 23, provided with aslidable collar 24: and having a bearing 25 which coacts with the beforementioned pivot members 22 with longitudinal play thereon. It will thusbe seen that the arms are permitted to move laterally and also supportedto swing, to a limited extent, about their pivotal connection withsupport 6. The latter provision disclosed is for the purpose of allowingadjustment or tensioning of the screen 11 and with this object in view,we pivotally connect the ends of the opposite arm 12, adjacent the rod23, by means of rods 26 and turnbuckle structure 27, similar structuresbeing disposed on both sides of the machine. The turnbuckle structure 27is shown in detail in Figs. 12 and 13, and includes sleeve portions 28,internally threaded in opposite directions, which receive thecomplementary threaded portions of rod 26, and a worm wheel 29 which maybe formed integral therewith. Clevis supporting members 30 retain a worm31 in coaction with the worm wheel 29, and the worms of both turnbucklestructures are connected by a common shaft 32 which may be provided witha crank 33 for operating the same. Thus, upon rotating the turnbucklestructures to feed the rods 26 outwardly, or in opposite directions, thecomplementary pairs of arms 12 are swung away from each other thustensioning the screen 11.

The screen. 11 is continuously moved, during operation of the device, inthe direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. 9, by means of motiontransmitted successively, from the motive power device 3%, to main driveshaft 35, shafts 36 and 37, preferably through belt transmission, shaft37 carrying a sprocket 38 which drives a chain 39 imparting movement tosimilar sprockets 38 secured to the shafts 13 and roller 15.

The support 6, and all parts carried thereby, have imparted thereto,during operation, a lateral to and fro movement by mechanism clearlyshown in Figs. 1 and l of the drawings, which consists of a shaft 40,driven by a quarter turn belt 41', from main drive shaft 35, eccentrics41. mounted on this shaft, and eccentric straps operatively connected tothe support 6 by means of pivoted rods 13.

Carried by the support 6, and superjacent to the screen 11. is a lid 44for the casing formed by the plates 41 and 5. With particular referenceto Fig. 9, this lid forms a chamber 45 above an inclined portion of thescreen 11 and is provided with an ingress opening 46 for the material tobe concentrated. The chamber 15 terminates at its upper end in aretroverted head 47 having an egress opening 48, so curved as to cause acurrent of air passing through the chamber, to be agitated beforeleaving the same. Any air current generated through the chamber #15 isdirected toward the head 48 by a plate 49 terminating at its lower endsubstantially tangent to the screen 11,. The lid 14 further provides achamber 50 above the descending portion of screen 11 and one wall 51,thereof serves as the base of a trough 52, the purpose of which is to besubsequently disclosed.

The plates 4. are adapted to support a plurality of air currentgenerators, which will be described successively with respect to theiraction upon the material fed into the chamber 45 through the opening-16. As previously stated, the screen 11 moves in the direction of thearrow shown in Fig. 9. Disposed below said screen and the chamber 45, isan air current generator which is provided with a conduit 54 to directthe air current produced, through the screen 11 and toward the head 47.This generator 53 may consist of fans which draw in air from theexterior of the apparatus, and plates 56, which may connect the innermargins of the fan blades to force the air through conduit 54:. Theaction of this initial air current is to separate the lighter particlesfrom the heavier particles, the former being blown upwardly toward thehead 47 where they are finally agitated before leaving the apparatusthrough the opening 48, and are conducted away by the trough 52. Theheavier particles which cannot pass through the mesh of the screen 11remain thereon and are carried forward with it in its movement.

Next adacent to the conduit 5-1 and under the screen 11 is afunnel-shaped cavity 57 into which material that passes through the meshof the screen is received. This cavity opens at the smaller end of afrusta conical shell 58, the larger end being provided with an intakefan 59 and spiral. blades 60 carried stationary upon the interior all ofthe shell. By the coaction of the fan 56 and blades 60, the indrawn aircurrent is given a whirling motion and encounters the material fiowingout of the cavity 57, after which the egress means for the air andmaterial widens into a chamber 61 in which is located a settling rittieplate 62. Owing to the enlarged chamber 61, the velocity of the currentis reduced and the heavier particles settle upon the plate 62 while thelighter particles have egress, with the air current,

through opening 63. We prefer to continuously agitate the plate 62 forthe purpose of freeing the concentrated ore thereon, from undesirablematter, and with this object in view, pivotally mount the plate at oneend on rod 64: and operatively connect the other end to an eccentricmechanism 65, or its equivalent, which may receive motion through belt66 and shaft 40, clearly shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

Such material as remains on the screen and passes the plate 49 is nextacted upon by a substantially uniform current of an indrawn by fans 66and deflected radially by ribs 67 into the chamber 50, and findingegress through the opening 68 thereof. The current carries 03 suchmaterial as is not of such specific gravity as to remain on the screen.Thus material which is not finally carried away by the air currentgenerated by fans 66, is deposited in conduit 69 and conveyed to chamber70 where a settling rittle plate 71 similar to that hereinbeforedescribed, is located. The plate 71 is pivoted at one end, as at 72, andagitated by eccentric mechanism 73, or its equivalent, receivingmovement through belts 74 from main drive shaft 35. Any suitable powertransmitting means may be used to actuate the several fans, and as shownin the drawings, fan 66 receives its motion from main drive shaft 35 andmotion transmitted to this fan is also transmitted to the other fans bybelts, all clearly disclosed in the drawings.

To adapt the apparatus for operation in close proximity to the placewhere the material is mined, we surmount a circular supporting track 78upon the uprights 2, such track supporting one end of a conveyerstructure 79. The end connection between the conveyer structure andcondenser is formed of a bearing block 80 for the sup port of a drum 81and drive wheel 82 therefor, the bearing block being provided withwheels 83, facilitating movement of the same about the track, and staywheels 84 retaining it in place with respect thereto. The conveyingstructure includes suitable framework 8% carrying guide wheels 85 for aconveyer belt 86 trained about the drum 81, at one end of the frame, anda similar adjustable drum 87 at the opposite end thereof.

It is obvious from the foregoing that the concentrator may bestat-ionarily located and the conveyer structure moved in circlesthereabout and extending radially therefrom. This enables the conveyerto be bodily moved successively as the working progresses. In order todrive the conveyer by means generated at device 34, movement of theshaft 35 is transmitted by belt 88 to actuate a rope-driving system 89,suitably tensioned by weight 90 and trained to rotate a verticallyarranged shaft 91 disposed concentric to the track 78. From the shaft 91power is transmitted to drive wheel 82 by a rope-driving system 92 heldproperly tensioned by weight 93. It is obvious, however, that othermeans of power transmission may be substituted for the rope-transmittingsystem, without departing from the spirit of our invention.

A hopper 9a is carried by the frame structure and adapted to transportthe material deposited thereon by the conveyer, to a shutter controlledhopper 95. The latter hopper is positioned to deliver to the opening 46in a chamber 45, and is provided with a shutter 96, controlled by acrank 97, to allow a fine, even stream of material to enter the saidchamber.

The operation of the device is as follows :The concentrator having beenpositioned for operation, the conveyer 79 is swung into convenientproximity to the active working, and the mechanism put into action. Thescreen is continuously agitated laterally and fed longitudinally overthe several air current generators as hereinbefore described. Theparticles of lighter specific gravity find egress with the air currentswhile those of higher specific gravity settle upon the settling plate ina somewhat graded condition, that is, those passing through the mesh ofthe screen settle on plate 62, while those of a size to remain bygravity on the screen, settle on plate 71. In practice, we find itdesirable to fill one or more of the plates with mercury.

We claim 1. An ore condenser comprising in combination, a screen movablelongitudinally crosswise of a vertical plane, means forming a pluralityof chambers, provided with out lets, above said screen and disposedsuccessively with respect to the direction of movement thereof, thefirst of said chambers be ing provided with ingress means for thematerial to be treated, mechanism delivering air currents, separated onefrom another, upwardly through said screen and into said chambers, meansdisposed intermediate two of the said delivered air currents forreceiving material passing through said screen, and means disposed insucceeding relation to said chambers with respect to the direction oftravel of said screen for receiving the material remaining on the latterafter having passed through the said chambers.

2. An ore condenser comprising in combination, a screen movablelongitudinally crosswise of a vertical plane, a device for reciprocatingsaid screen laterally, means forming a plurality of chambers, providedwith outlets, above said screen and disposed successively with respectto the direction of movement thereof, the first of said chambers beingprovided with ingress means for the material to be treated, mechanismdelivering air currents, separated one from another, upwardly throughsaid screen and into said chambers, means disposed intermediate two ofthe said delivered air currents for receiving material passing throughsaid screen, and means disposed in succeeding relation to said chamberswith respect to the direction of travel of said screen for receiving thematerial remaining on the latter after having passed through saidchambers.

3. An ore condenser comprising in combination, a screen movablelongitudinally crosswise of a vertical plane, means forming a pluralityof chambers, provided with outlets, above said screen and disposedsuccessively with respect to the direction of movement thereof, thefirst of said chambers being provided with ingress means for thematerial to be treated, air current generating means delivering to saidchambers, upwardly through said screen and separated one from another, ameans for agitating the air current in the said first chamber adjacentthe outletthereof, means disposed intermediate two of the said deliveredair currents for receiving material passing through the screen, andmeans disposed in succeeding relation to said chambers with respect tothe direction of travel of said screen for receiving the materialremaining on the latter after having passed through said chambers.

at. In an ore condenser the combination, of a screen movablelongitudinally crosswise of a vertical plane and having an ascending anddescending path of movement, means forming two chambers one above thesaid ascending portion and one above the said descending portion of saidscreen, said chambers being provided with outlets adjacent their endsdisposed farther-most with respect to the direction of movement of saidscreen the first of said chambers being provided with ingress means forthe material to be treated, mechanism delivering air currents, separatedone from another, upwardly through said screen and into said chambersand in advance of the openings therein, means disposed intermediate twoof the said delivered air currents for conveying material passingthrough said screen, and means disposed in succeeding relation to saidchambers with respect to the direction of travel of said screen forreceiving the material remaining on the latter after having passedthrough said chambers.

5. In an ore condenser the combination, of a screen movinglongitudinally crosswise of a vertical plane and having an ascending anddescending path of movement, means forming chambers, provided withoutlets, above the ascending and descending portions of said screen anddisposed successively with respect to the direction of movement thereof,the first of said chambers being provided with ingress means for thematerial to be treated, mechanism delivering air currents, separated onefrom another, upwardly through said screen and into said chambers, meansdisposed in succeeding relation to one of the said delivered aircurrents and open to the chamber above the ascending portion of thescreen for conveying material passing through the latter and meansdisposed in succeeding relation to the chamber over the ascendingportion of said screen for receiving the material remaining upon thelatter after having passed through said chamber.

6. In an ore condenser the combination, of a screen movablelongitudinally crosswise of a vertical plane, means forming a pluralityof chambers, provided with outlets, above said screen and disposedsuccessively with respect to the direction thereof, the first of saidchambers being provided with ingress means for the material to betreated, air current generating means delivering to the first of saidchambers and directed to encounter the material fed thereinto, a conduitdisposed beneath the said screen and open to the said first chamber, forthe reception of material passing through said screen, a second aircurrent generator directing its current of air into a succeeding chamberto said first mentioned chamber for carrying away the lighter particlesof matter upon said screen, and means succeeding said last mentionedchamber for receiving the material upon said screen.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

HOLGER J. NIELSEN. CHARLES J. BORGLIN. LUDVIG C. A. SOEBORG.

W'itnesses F. P. ScHRoEDnR, H. C. Sormonnnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner or Patentt. Washington, I). C.

